Nikon updates firmware for D3100, D3200, D5100, D5200, and P7700

Nikon has posted firmware updates for the following cameras: D3100, D3200, D5100, D5200, and P7700. More accurate detection of the remaining charge for the EN-EL14a rechargeable li-ion battery is the only fix.

I updated my D5200 to C 1.01 immediately after purchase (and before reading these comments). I can't comment on changes as I am new to this camera. I am hoping third party batteries still work, as I have two in the mail from Amazon. I am experiencing problems using Live View using Sofortbuild. Live View will not work, but it does work using Nikon's (expensive) Camera Control Pro 2. I can activate the Live View with the camera unplugged, but as soon as I connect it, the mirror drops and Live View stops. I fear Nikon might have sneaked in a patch for third party batteries and software.

CAUTION: Be very careful - I just did the firmware update for the Nikon P7700, and now, 3rd party batteries no longer work. The camera will not respond to any of the 3rd party models that I have - including the Wasabi's that are superior. Once you turn off the camera (after firmware update), it will not start up again with a 3rd party battery (at least in my case). But it will function just fine with Nikon batteries. Way to go Nikon!!!! You Tu_ds....another way for you to make an extra buck now having to buy your batteries exclusively.

Well, the question is whether the camera will allow you to install a lower version firmware. Sometimes these things are programmed in such a way that the camera will ignore the "new" (old in your case) firmware if this firmware's version number is lower than what's currently in the camera.

I've got a D5200 and now I'm wondering if this upgrade would make my non-Nikon battery stop working as well. For now, I'm just not going to install this new firmware at all.

HA! That's just what I was going thinking, that the update would do that. I have a D3100 and P7700 and use Wasabi EN-EL14s with no problem for both. Boy am I glad I checked out these comments before I did anything. Thanks, I hope you can get it squared away. How do you like that P7700?

I guess the new firmware must identify EN-EL14 vs. EN-EL14a and the check fails with a 3rd-party battery. Probably a bug in the new firmware as Nikon may simply have skipped a test for 3rd-party batteries in the lab. Solution would be to fall back to EN-EL14 behaviour in the firmware.

Not sure though if there will ever be another FW update. Nevertheless, I still don't think Nikon did it on purpose or that all 3rd-party batteries cause problems.

There is no way to know if a non-factory firmware downgrade is safe. I doubt if Nikon even test for this. It can't be as simple as just reflashing because saved parameters have to be preserved. Simplest and safest way is for the camera to check firmware binary for an embedded version number and only apply newer versions.

Also safest and simplest to calibrate camera behaviour for Nikon's own products. Why would they do anything else?

Interestingly the P7100 also uses EN-EL14s but hasn't had a firmware update.

I'm thinking about taking advantage of the special for the D5200 / 18-140 kit. It's such a great all around camera and that lens is pricey, but with the $400 instant rebate special, the kit is extremely reasonable. The only thing keeping me from doing it now is the D7100 is so excellent, and the D5300 has added 1080p60, a first for any Nikon.

But since IQ is so close on all three bodies, it's a really tough choice.

For the D3200 firmware, if they added 1/3 EV steps to the ISO, it would be a heck of a lot more desirable of a body for me. As it is, I can't deal with full stops in ISO.

Latest in-depth reviews

The Fujifilm X-H1 is a top-of-the-range 24MP mirrorless camera with in-body stabilization and the company's most advanced array of video capabilities. We've been shooting with one for a while now and have put together a gallery, a sample video and some preliminary analysis.

Panasonic's Lumix DC-GX9 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera that offers quite a few upgrades over its predecessor, with a lower price tag to boot. We've spent the weekend with the GX9 and have plenty of thoughts to share, along with an initial set of sample photos.

Panasonic's new premium compact boasts a 24-360mm equiv. F3.3-6.4 zoom lens, making it the longest reaching 1"-type pocket camera on the market. We spent a little time with it; read our first impressions.

The Panasonic GH5S is best understood as an even more video-centric variant of the GH5. We've tested it in a range of circumstances to see whether the video improvements are worth the loss of stabilization.

Latest buying guides

Landscape photography isn't as simple as just showing up in front of a beautiful view and taking a couple of pictures. Landscape shooters have a unique set of needs and requirements for their gear, and we've selected some of our favorites in this buying guide.

Quick. Unpredictable. Unwilling to sit still. Kids really are the ultimate test for a camera's autofocus system. We've compiled a short list of what we think are the best options for parents trying to keep up with young kids, and narrowed it down to one best all-rounder.

If you're a serious enthusiast or working pro, the very best digital cameras on the market will cost you at least $2000. That's a lot of money, but generally speaking these cameras offer the highest resolution, the best build quality and the most advanced video specs out there, as well as fast burst rates and top-notch autofocus.

Are you a speed freak? Hungry to photograph anything that goes zoom? Or perhaps you just want to get Sports Illustrated level shots of your child's soccer game. Keep reading to find out which cameras we think are best for sports and action shooting.

Ricoh has announced an updated version of its K-1 full-frame DSLR. The Pentax K-1 Mark II gains an additional 'accelerator' processor that enables improved image processing as well as a handheld version of its Pixel Shift Resolution mode.

For a limited time this summer, current K-1 owners will be able to send their cameras in for a circuit board replacement, essentially upgrading to a Mark II. They'll even get a Mark II logo swapped in on the front of the camera.

Panasonic has continued to develop its organic/CMOS image sensor tech, and the latest breakthrough is big: an image sensor that can shoot 8K at 60p, boasts incredible dynamic range, and has global shutter capability.

Services like Copypants and Pixsy help anybody find copyright infringers, send take-down requests, and quickly demand licensing fees and damages. But do these automated systems also open the door to prolific copyright trolls?

The new 5x4-inch field camera was designed by UK photographer and custom camera maker Steve Lloyd, and it promises to be lightweight, easy-to-use, unique, affordable and upgradable... as well as a bit funky.

Camera accessory manufacturer Really Right Stuff is relocating. The company is moving its headquarters from California to Utah, citing rising costs and promising 'expansion on every level' as a result of this move.

Fujifilm's new X-H1 sits above the X-T2 in the company's X-series APS-C lineup. At the X-H1's launch in LA last week, we sat down with the camera's product manager, Jun Watanabe, for a detailed look at the new camera.

The so-called 'Prosthetic Photographer' uses AI to continuously scan the environment for 'ideal' scenes. When it sees one, it uses electrodes to zap the photographer, forcing them to press the button and take the shot. It's an... interesting idea.

A helicopter pilot and his student claim a civilian drone was the cause of their crash landing last week. If their story is confirmed by an ongoing investigators, this incident would mark the first time that a drone has caused an aircraft crash in the US.

Lensrentals' Roger Cicala just tore down the Sony a7R III to see just how much Sony did (and didn't) improve the camera's weather sealing over its predecessor. The results are a "good news, bad news" deal.

Samsung just set a new solid state storage milestone with its new 30TB SSD, the Serial Attached SCSI PM1643. This monster was built for enterprise use, but we can't wait to see this tech trickle down to consumers.

On this week's episode of The New Screen Savers from the TWiT Network, DPReview Science Editor Rishi Sanyal talks with host Leo Laporte and co-host Megan Morrone about some of the newest tech trends in smartphone cameras.

A blockchain crypto-art rose based on a digital photograph by Kevin Abosch was just sold for the equivalent of $1,000,000 USD in cryptocurrency to 10 equal investors. If that last sentence made absolutely no sense to you, read on.

Swiss Olympic skier Lara Gut wiped out on a run last week, and slid straight into a group of photographers shooting the action from the sidelines. Getty photographer Sean Haffey kept on shooting as Gut slid towards (and eventually hit) him.

There was a time when Fujifilm mirrorless camera users may have felt the need to go to another system to shoot video. Thanks to a new camera and a couple of lenses, they suddenly have some sweet options.

The Rotolight Neo 2 is an LED light panel with the capability to fire its LEDs fast enough and bright enough to act as a strobe. Is it enough to make stills photographers re-think their old-fashioned speed lights? Read on and find out.

Sony has made something of a break-through in sensor development with a new backside-illuminated CMOS sensor that is capable of global shutter, a huge improvement over current CMOS global shutter technology.

Microsoft has released a new "Ultimate Performance" mode for Windows 10 Pro for Workstations—a mode that throws all power management out the window (so to speak) in favor of the best possible performance it can pull from your hardware.